Khalsa Care Foundation 2014 Annual Report
by Bhajneet Singh ([email protected])
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh
Khalsa Care Foundation (KCF) started about five years ago and is a humble attempt to create an environment where activists can explore their potential. There is nothing special about the land or the location, but what makes this place special is the humble, hard working, and Guru-inspired sevadaars. We share this report in an attempt to hold ourselves accountable to continue to do more impactful Seva, to inspire other Gurdwaras to realize their potential, and to create a dialog for support to accomplish great things.
First, we give thanks to KCF's CEO, founder, and visionary who provides constant direction and guidance, and without whom we would be lost and confused. We are very fortunate to have the Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji as the leader of KCF, and under the constant ever-present guidance of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, we have been able to accomplish the following in 2014.
Kirtan
Kirtan is something that every Sikh should learn. Through various classes we have enabled kids and adults to be able to expand on their love for the Divine through learning of Kirtan.
Bhai Kultar Singh Ji comes twice a year and has embarked on teaching a group of adults and kids shabads in all 31 raags. His students practice kirtan weekly and lead Kirtan for the sangat weekly.
Raj Academy comes to KCF twice a year and has embarked on teaching adults and kids how to use the instruments used and invented by our Gurus. The students meet once a week to practice stringed instruments (tanthi saaz) and lead Kirtan for the Sangat regularly.
KCF Sevadaars conduct beginning-level kirtan and tabla classes every Friday night. These classes provide a forum for youth to come to Gurdwara on Friday nights, learn a shabad, have a friend circle, and celebrate each other's birthdays by singing Jeevat Jeevat Jeevat Raho.
KCF sangat members come together every Sunday at 6:59 am to sing Asa Di Vaar. Everyone sits on the floor together and the entire sangat actively participates in Asa Di Vaar. Through this program some adults who had never previously done Kirtan are now confidently singing Asa Di Vaar, some very young children are able to sing Asa Di Vaar, and countless have memorized the bani.
Punjabi & Gurmat School
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| The Punjabi School classes are informative and fun. The kids spend their time learning the Punjabi letters and also making projects based on what they have learned. |
The Punjabi language is fundamental in our understanding of the Guru Granth Sahib and is a big focus at KCF. Once we know the language, we need to gain experience interpreting Gurbani, reflecting, and implementing it in our lives. The following are activities of the Punjabi School.
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| Every Sunday over 300 kids come together to the KCF Punjabi School. The kids learn Punjabi, Sikh History, and Gurmat. Here are the kids waiting for the morning assembly to begin. |
Every Sunday approximately 300 kids come together and begin with an assembly including youth-led Ardaas and reading of the Hukam. The students then go to their classes in which they are taught Punjabi language, Sikh history, and Gurmat. When students have completed enough years with proficiency they are given high school credit in foreign language.
The senior kids of the Punjabi school have formed a Student Council where they are able to make announcements, organize programs and take active roles in leadership of the Punjabi School activities.
For the last 2 years, the Punjabi school students have participated in the Dasvandh Network Box Project in which they learn about the importance of giving Dasvandh and collect funds for various projects. The aim is to inspire a spirit of giving at an early age. They have collected hundreds of dollars and donated it to various charities. (www.dvnetwork..org)
Additionally, every week, a class is held for adult learners who wish to improve their Punjabi reading, writing and speaking.
Every Sunday a group of dedicated adults come together to learn gurbani and gurmat in a comfortable environment. The very well attended class aims to inspire adults to be constantly learning through resources available to us and to inspire us to understand and implement Gurbani in our lives. Current topic is Asa Ki Vaar.
Health Initiatives
Keeping our bodies fit and healthy is essential to being able to do Seva. Some of us have access to health services and others have little access to services or even information on how to maintain good health. Below are some of the health initiatives that were done in 2014.
We held a medical and dental fair at the Gurdwara where we invited people from all over the city to get health screenings and learn about how to improve their health. We did basic physical exams, dental exams, and mammograms along with doctors on site to answer questions and give advice for any medical issues.
The UCLA chapter of Bhagat Pooran Singh Health Initiative also comes multiple times a year to do free health screenings for sangat members. Additionally, multiple times a year, we invite the Red Cross to come and collect blood donations from our sangat. We provide free flu shots to our sangat members and also register people for bone marrow donation about once a year.
Youth Camps & Competitions
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| Camp Gian big group picture from beach trip |
Camp Gian is held at KCF during the first full week of August every year. Over 150 kids come to participate in gurmat-inspired living where they are learning and doing Nitnem, interpreting Gurbani, and participating in discussion sessions with peers. Kids and adults look forward to this time every year and leave with their Sikhi batteries fully charged. (www.campgian.com)
Ujjaldidar Singh Memorial Foundation (USMF) celebrates their annual Sikh Children's Day in memory of Sardar Ujjaldidar Singh at KCF every year. Children from all over California take part in the daylong event and range from ages 1 to 20. Kids participate in competitions such as Kirtan, Tabla, Gurbani, Dastaar, Speech, Kavita, Gatka, and Basketball. Four lucky high school seniors also each receive a $500 scholarship. Last year in 2014, USMF's celebrated its 21st Sikh Children's Day. (http://www.ujjal.org)
The Jakara Movement held multiple camps at KCF in 2014. Jakara Juniors, a youth camp focused on gurmat based social activism, is held at KCF multiple times a year. They also conduct annual gardening camps at KCF where they encourage kids and adults to learn about gardening and connecting environmentalism with Gurbani. (www.jakara.org)
In addition to the above KCF participates with the Sri Hemkunt Foundation's Speech Competitions and Kirtan Competitions.
Langar Seva
A dedicated group of KCF sevadars prepare Langar for large programs in the Southern California area like the Annual Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan in downtown LA, Annual IIGS Darbar-E-Khalsa, and other main programs throughout Los Angeles. These selfless sevadars come to Gurdwara very early in the morning and do Naam Simran while preparing langar on a weekly basis.
This year, KCF participated in distributing free pasta at a local 4th of July picnic that is attended by almost every resident of Pacoima. We were the only stall there distributing free food and were able to give pasta to thousands of people during the Independence Day celebration.
Food Pantry, Homeless Shelters, & Giveaways
Sikhs are hard working and have proven to be very successful in the US. We do a great job of feeding ourselves elaborate meals in our Gurdwaras, but we need to make sure we are living out the Gurus message by providing food to all. The following activities are integral and many are run by our youth.
Khalsa Food Pantry operates out of a room in KCF and is run by local sevadars. Every Friday, approximately one hundred local underserved families come to the Gurdwara and line up to receive free food. Each family is given rice, beans, produce, canned goods and occasionally dairy or other special items. Some of the families who have come to get food have also joined us in volunteering at the pantry as all are encouraged to participate in the Seva. All leave with huge smiles and are appreciative of Sikhs and KCF for providing them help in a time they need it.
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| Sikh Sharing and Caring Event hosted every year at KCF draws in over 1600 people who come to KCF as guests and walk away with gifts after having a great time playing carnival style games. Guests are identified as low income families in the surrounding area who can use a little bit of extra help during the Holiday season. |
KCF's annual Sharing is Caring event is a carnival that is hosted at Gurdwara for local underserved families. This event is always a huge success and this year it hosted about 1600 non-sikhs at Gurdwara. We interact with our guests, play carnival games, gave out food, and as they left we gave each family gifts including a toy bag, winter warmth bag, and food bag.
In addition to this KCF sevadaars regularly take and serve food at a local homeless shelter during the winter months. People at this shelter all recognize us and get very excited to see us as they now associate Sikhs with people who are very generous and giving. We also prepare bags with nonperishable goods for distribution at LA's Skid Row during Thanksgiving and participate in Meals on Wheels delivering food to local elders.
Sports
The Singh Sensations is an all-sardar basketball team that plays locally in the city of Burbank. The Singh Sensations in partnership with KCF hosts an annual kids basketball camp. In this camp, kids come together and learn from the experiences of the Singh Sensations basketball players and are taught about how we can implement Gurmat in all aspects of our lives, particularly in sports.
The Super Sikhs is a group of Sikhs who come together to do Asa Di Vaar at KCF every Sunday and afterwards play soccer in the city of Pasadena league. It's a great way to extend our sangat from Kirtan to Sports every Sunday. As a result of integrating with the surrounding, countless Sikhs have been approached by people saying they have seen our people playing soccer.
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| Sevadars enjoying the beach trip during Camp Gian (www.campgian.com). Every year we take 150 campers to the beach for a fun time. The kids play in the water, have water balloon fights, and play beach volleyball. |
KCF hosts an annual picnic in which we all come together to enjoy a day full of sports, games and each others sangat. Most years the picnic is kicked off by a youth Asa Di Vaar in the park.
KCF also participates in inter-Gurdwara basketball and volleyball competitions which involve kids as well as dads and moms teams. These events are organized by other Gurdwaras in the area.
Distribution of Guru Granth Sahib Saroops in the USA
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| With Gurus Kirpa we were able to arrange for a Siri Guru Granth Sahib Saroop to arrive from SGPC India. We had a large sangat eager to do seva. Here is a picture of the Panj Piarai doing overseeing the travel of the 150 saroops. Please contact us at [email protected] if you are interested in keeping Maharaj Saroop in your home. |
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| Sangat came out from all over Los Angeles to come help do Seva of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib Saroop as they arrived. Here are some sevadars bring in Maharaj with full satkar. |
Khalsa Care Foundation is the main source for all Guru Granth Sahib Saroops in the USA. We have brought SGPC-approved saroops from India and distributed them according to full Akaal Takht Maryada throughout the USA. We hope to continue this Seva for years to come.
Nagar Kirtan & Rose Parade
Khalsa Care Foundation makes all of the floats that are used at the annual Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan from scratch. This Nagar Kirtan parades through downtown and is usually covered by many news sites displaying the beautiful floats. KCF organizes the Nagar Kirtan and the floats.
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| This float carrying the Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is built and stored every year at KCF. Sevadars come from all over Los Angeles to come help out every Vaisakhi to build and decorate the floats and the nagar kirtan is a highlight for all as thousands of Sikhs parade through downtown Los Angeles. |
KCF was integral in making the Sikh Float at the Rose Parade a reality. KCF sangat members helped decorate, design, and fundraise for the Sikh Float. The Rose Parade was viewed by millions of people across the world and was covered by dozens of news channels. It was wonderful to have Sikhs front and center at such a celebratory and well-known event.
Miscellaneous
Khalsa Care Foundation & Jakara Sevadars come together to maintain the Mata Dharat Mahat garden located at KCF. The produce that comes out of the garden goes towards langar and is given to local families.
Every Tuesday KCF hosts Senior Day where seniors come to Gurdwara and have a day planned of activities for them. They learn from a medical professional, do yoga, have discussions, and enjoy each other's company.
Multiple times a year, Dr Arik Greenberg, a theology professor from Loyola Marymount University organizes student field trips to the Gurdwara as a part of his teaching curriculum. His students enjoy discussions with our youth, a lecture on the basics of Sikhi, and of course, share in langar.
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| KCF has a computer lab that provides very popular classes such as; Intro to Computers, Online Banking, Microsoft Office, and advanced Photoshop classes. |
Many adults have expressed interest in learning computers and KCF sevadaars have been able to create a computer lab at the Gurdwara and have provided the following very popular courses: Intro to Computers, Online banking classes, Microsoft Office 101, Microsoft Office 201, and Adobe Photoshop.
Although with Gurus blessings we have done a number of things in 2014, we are hoping to be able to do all of the above plus a number of new initiatives in 2015. We have found that if we surround ourselves with like-minded and service-oriented people and control our egos all projects and initiatives become successful.
If any Gurdwara would like to implement any of the above programs, please contact us at [email protected]. Our hope is that this report can be inspiration to other Gurdwaras to become better institutions that are making a difference in peoples' lives.
Khalsa Care Foundation is located at:
9989 Laurel Canyon Blvd
Pacoima, Ca 91331
http://khalsacarefoundation.org/